Welcome to the Piano World Piano ForumsOver 2.5 million posts about pianos, digital pianos, and all types of keyboard instruments
Join the World's Largest Community of Piano Lovers
(it's free)
It's Fun to Play the Piano ... Please Pass It On!

Can anyone here venture a guess as to why Horowitz took the "Joe Cocker" spastic hands approach to play thumb/pinky intervals?

The real question, I think, is why he isn't playing those intervals with his nose.

My point here is that the focus on mechanique is misguided. I am reminded of the story of a lady who approached Hofmann and Godowsky at a party and expressed amazement that they could play so well with such small hands. Godowsky responded: "Lady, where in the world did you get the idea that we play piano with our hands."

Can anyone here venture a guess as to why Horowitz took the "Joe Cocker" spastic hands approach to play thumb/pinky intervals?

The real question, I think, is why he isn't playing those intervals with his nose.

My point here is that the focus on mechanique is misguided. I am reminded of the story of a lady who approached Hofmann and Godowsky at a party and expressed amazement that they could play so well with such small hands. Godowsky responded: "Lady, where in the world did you get the idea that we play piano with our hands."